How to Find a Reliable Tradie in Australia — The Complete Guide
Avoid dodgy tradies and find trustworthy professionals. A step-by-step guide to hiring the right tradie for your home, every time.
Why Finding a Good Tradie is Hard
Australia has no shortage of tradespeople, but finding one who is reliable, qualified, fairly priced and communicates well is harder than it sounds. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) receives thousands of complaints about tradespeople each year — mostly around incomplete work, price gouging and unlicensed operators.
Step 1: Verify Their Licence
Every trade that requires a licence in your state must be verifiable through the relevant government authority. Never hire a tradie who can't show you a current licence number.
- NSW — check via Service NSW or NSW Fair Trading licence lookup
- VIC — check via Victorian Building Authority (VBA) for building/plumbing, Energy Safe Victoria for electrical
- QLD — check via Queensland Building and Construction Commission (QBCC)
- WA — check via Building Commission WA or EnergySafety WA
- SA — check via Consumer and Business Services SA
- All tradies on TradeVault are licence-verified before they can accept jobs
Step 2: Check Their Insurance
Any tradie working on your property should carry current public liability insurance (minimum $5M recommended) and, if they employ workers, workers compensation insurance. Ask to see a certificate of currency before work starts. This protects you if someone is injured on your property or your home is damaged during the job.
Step 3: Read Real Reviews
Verified reviews from past customers are the single best indicator of a tradie's reliability. Look for patterns — not just the star rating. A tradie with 50 reviews averaging 4.7 stars is far more trustworthy than one with 5 reviews at 5 stars. Pay attention to reviews mentioning communication, punctuality, cleanliness and whether the job came in on budget.
Step 4: Get at Least 3 Quotes
Never accept the first quote you receive. Getting multiple quotes serves two purposes: it gives you a realistic market rate for your job, and it gives you a chance to assess how professional and communicative each tradie is. The cheapest quote is rarely the best — but neither is the most expensive.
- Get quotes in writing, not verbally
- Ensure each quote covers the same scope of work
- Ask what is and isn't included (materials, disposal, etc.)
- Ask about their availability and expected timeline
- Ask how variations (unexpected complications) are handled
Step 5: Check Their ABN
Every legitimate tradesperson operating as a business in Australia must have a current Australian Business Number (ABN). You can verify any ABN instantly at abr.business.gov.au. Be cautious of tradies who only accept cash and can't provide an invoice — this can indicate an unlicensed operator.
